This document provides a summary of three articles related to firefighter safety and operations. It discusses 25 factors in firefighter fatalities including issues with command systems and transfer of command. It also summarizes three ways to avoid dying on duty: drive response vehicles safely, monitor fire conditions, and take care of physical and mental health. Finally, it advertises training, courses, grants and resources available for fire departments.

1. Fast Reading for a Fast Paced Fire Service
December 16, 2010
Fire-
Purpose of Fire-Zine
To provide members of
the fire service with
quips of valuable
information from a
plethora of resources
available.
Produced by John J. McNeil
Rhodes Consultants, Inc.
Operations
Command factor reported in the
Three Ways to Not
NIOSH Firefighter Fatal-
Die on Duty
ity reports researched by
25 Factors in (Fire Engineering)
Parker pertained to
Firefighter Fatalities
Command System,
(Fire Engineering) The down and dirty of
Organization and
firefighter survival is put
As fire departments Transfer of Command.
into plain talk in an arti-
operate short-staffed “Fast attacks” where
cle written by John (3) Start taking care of
at emergency inci- transfer of command
“Skip” Coleman in Fire yourself by watch-
dents often times occurs to personnel not
Engineering . The article ing your diet
proven tactics are yet arrived on the scene
condenses what can be (firehouse meals)
compromised or short- leads to communications
done to not die on duty and exercise a
cuts are taken in order issues and the entire
into three basic points. little.
to compensate for lack operation being placed
(1) Drive your response
of personnel and in the in “limbo”.
vehicle like your chil-
interest of saving life Multiple departments
dren are in it with you.
and property. operating at the same
Jeffrey Parker a 31- scene has led some-
year veteran of the fire times to multiple com-
service, paramedic mands and chaos on the
emergency scene. For a When you think in gen-
and adjunct faculty eral terms as to what is
member at the Univer- copy of the complete
research document copy/ killing most firefighters
sity of Cincinnati, did a it is cardiac and stroke
research paper on paste this link:
http://www.fireengineering.com/ related issues, stress,
what are the 25 (2) At fires, monitor the
index/articles/generic-article- apparatus accidents,
factors in firefighter tools-template/_printArticle/ environment, specifi-
entrapment in burning
fatalities at structure articles/fire-engineering/ cally heat conditions,
survival-zone/2010/04/Staffing- structures and lack of
fires. smoke conditions and
and-Tactics-for-Firefighter- situational awareness
The most common Survival.html the stability of the
on the emergency
structure you are in.
scene.

2. Volume 1 Issue 5 Page 2
Fire-Zine Knowledge is Survival
To read the full article Three Logistics Funded by the RJA Group,
Things You Can Do So You the grant is open to any fire
Won’t Die on Duty copy/paste: Portable Radios Best department (career or volunteer)
www.fireengineering.com/index/ Practices (IAFC) located in the United States or
articles/display/1187924800/ The International Association of Canada. The criteria requires
articles/fireengineering/survival- Fire Chiefs has developed a train- recipients to meet the following:
zone/2010/08/coleman-three- ing presentation and video for
things.html
addressing communications con-
cerns for radio users on the emer- • Demonstration of a plan to
Planning gency scene. Specifically, radio implement a community-
use considerations, procedural and wide fire and life safety
Management and technical issues to be considered program/campaign.
Planning Level by command staff, radio system
Courses managers and technical personnel • Clearly stated goals and
As part of the National Domes- as well as the radio manufacturer’s objectives.
tic Preparedness Consortium recommendations. The best prac-
(NDPC), TEEX offers special tices provided are primarily • Staffing assigned to
Homeland Security courses focused on the field radio user’s implement the program/
funded by the National Home- environment. To access or campaign.
land Security Training Program. download the presentation and/or
Tuition in these courses for video copy/paste: www.iafc.org/ • A 1-page final report,
qualified participants displaycommon.cfm? including an overview of the
(firefighters) is paid by the an=1&subarticlenbr=1121 project, number of people
federal government. reached, media coverage,
Awareness level courses, Administration & Fiscal life saves, etc., must be
performance level courses and received at NFPA by
Grant Opportunity
management and planning level December 31, 2011.
(NFPA)
courses are offered. For more
information on the specific level
courses offered go to the Grant recipients receive $5,000 to
following link: support the implementation and
evaluation of the fire and life
Http://teexweb.tamu.edu/ogt/ safety education program/
campaign, a commemorative
plaque and recipient’s name in-
scribed on the Rolf H. Jensen Me-
NFPA is seeking applications for morial Public Education
the 2011 Rolf H. Jensen Memorial Grant winners’ plaque displayed at
Public Education Grant, funded by NFPA headquarters.
the RJA Group. The award pro- For further information on this
Leadership Quote on vides a $5,000 grant annually to a grant opportunity copy/paste the
local fire department in the United following link:
Inspiration States or Canada implementing a
“A pat on the back, though fire and life safety education pro- http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?
gram or campaign. The application cate-
only a few vertebrae removed deadline is February 4, 2011. goryID=473&itemID=17871&URL=Traini
ng/Scholarships,%20awards,%20grants/
from a kick in the pants, is The Rolf H. Jensen Memorial Pub-
For%20public%20educators/Rolf%
lic Education Grant is presented
20H.%20Jensen%20Memorial%
miles ahead in results.” annually to a local fire department 20Public%20Education%
to support a fire and life safety 20Grant&cookie%5Ftest=1
———-Bennett Cerf
education community-wide
program or campaign.